Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra

Devanagari script

शक्त्या तया महाबाहुराजघानस्तनांतरे । कुमारः स्म रुषाविष्टस्तारकासुरमोजसा

Transliteration

śaktyā tayā mahābāhurājaghānastanāṃtare | kumāraḥ sma ruṣāviṣṭastārakāsuramojasā

Translation

俱摩罗以那神枪，凭其雄健臂力直击塔罗迦阿修罗胸膛正中；怒焰充盈之际，俱摩罗以炽盛威光之力压伏彼魔。

Word by Word

• शक्त्या: with a spear/weapon
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• तया: with that
• तया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular; demonstrative)

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one (Kumāra)
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular); बहुव्रीहि—‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य सः’

• अजघान: struck/slew
• अजघान: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• स्तन-अन्तरे: in the space between the breasts (on the chest)
• स्तन-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘स्तनयोः अन्तरम्’

• कुमारः: Kumāra (Skanda)
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-प्रयोगः (particle indicating past narration/emphasis)

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• आविष्टः: possessed/overcome
• आविष्टः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु) → आविष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रविष्ट/आक्रान्त’

• तारक-असुरम्: Tārakāsura
• तारक-असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); कर्मधारय—‘तारकः असुरः’

• ओजसा: with strength/force
• ओजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Kumāra (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Tārakāsura

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

Kumāra’s spear-strike symbolizes divine śakti empowered by Śiva’s will, piercing the “chest” of demonic pride—i.e., the hardened ego that obstructs devotion and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Kumāra acts as Śiva’s commander (senāpati), showing how Saguna Śiva’s grace manifests through divine forms to protect dharma; devotion to the Liṅga is devotion to that same protecting, purifying power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Channel “ojas” through disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady mind-control; offer anger into worship as transformed zeal for dharma rather than outward harm.